INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana University says an NCAA charge that it failed to monitor its men’s basketball program is unwarranted because former coach Kelvin Sampson and his coaching staff withheld information and concealed impermissible phone calls from the compliance department.

Indiana’s response to the NCAA’s latest charge was released Monday in response to a Freedom of Information request from The Associated Press.

The NCAA has accused Sampson and his assistants of four major violations stemming from more than 100 impermissible phone calls to recruits made by Sampson and his assistants while Sampson was still on probation for a similar phone-call scandal at Oklahoma.

McGrady says he needs surgery

HOUSTON — Houston Rockets star Tracy McGrady says his left shoulder is arthritic and will require surgery after this season and that his left knee is still bothering him after surgery in May.

McGrady sprained his shoulder against Sacramento on March 24. He had surgery to clear loose tissue in his shoulder and knee.

• Dallas forward Josh Howard took a first step toward repairing his damaged reputation, saying he was sorry for disrespecting the national anthem.

• Backup point guard Sam Cassell is back to help the Boston Celtics try to repeat as NBA champions. Cassell averaged 7.6 points during the regular season.

• The Detroit Pistons signed free-agent guard Alex Acker to a contract. Terms were not disclosed.

• Guard Damon Jones won’t be returning with the Milwaukee Bucks. In a mutual agreement, Jones will work out on his own while trying to catch on with another team.

Shock in WNBA Finals

YPSILANTI, Mich. — Deanna Nolan scored 21 points and Taj McWilliams-Franklin added 19 to help the Detroit Shock reach the WNBA finals for the third straight season with a 75-73 win Monday over the New York Liberty.

The Shock won the best-of-three Eastern Conference finals and advanced to play San Antonio for the championship. Detroit beat Sacramento in 2006 for its second league title, then lost in five games to Phoenix last year.

Footnotes.

Chicago Blackhawks goalie Nikolai Khabibulin has been put on waivers. Khabibulin is entering the final season of a four-year, $27 million contract.

• ESPN.com, citing a source, is reporting Sergei Gonchar of the Pittsburgh Penguins will miss four to six months because of shoulder surgery.

• Paul Menard will leave Dale Earnhardt Inc. at the end of the season to drive for Yates Racing, The Associated Press has learned. Menard is expected to announce today that both he and his sponsorship will move to Yates.

• Standout Santa Clara basketball center John Bryant was recovering from stab wounds to the back stemming from an off-campus incident Saturday, Santa Clara police said.

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